324 How to Make a Fern Case. 



HOW TO MAKE A FERN CASE. 



The use of glass cases for growing ferns and ornamental foliage plants 

 is yearly becoming more general. VVe shall attempt in this article to give 

 a few directions b}^ which they may be made at less expense than has 

 heretofore been thought possible, in the hope to induce those who have 

 never yet enjoyed the beauties of a fern case, to undertake the pleasant 

 labor of making and stocking one. 



For the case itself, all that is necessary is five panes of glass, of such 

 shape and size as to form a case of agreeable proportions. Thi^ee panes, 

 twelve by eighteen inches each, one for the top and the other two for 

 the sides, with two panes, each twelve inches square, for the ends, will 

 make an excellent shape and size, though we think a little deeper, say 

 thirteen or fourteen inches, is still better. Of course it can be made as 

 large as wished, retaining the same proportions. A perfect cube would 

 not look badly, but the oblong is better. Then as to the base, if you 

 are not handy with carpenters' tools yourself, tlie cabinet-maker will 

 furnish you one at small expense. The first thing is a piece of inch 

 board for the bottom, which should be two or three inches larger all 

 around than the case is wanted. The base should be about three inches 

 high, and may be plain or moulded, as is most convenient, and nothing 

 is more agreeable to the eye than an ogee moulding, like an inverted cor- 

 nice, with a bead above. There should be a groove or a rabbet in the 

 inside of the upper part of the base to receive the glass. The base looks 

 well made of black walnut, but may be made of any other wood. Some- 

 times the case is made with the glass reaching to the bottom, but then 

 the panes must be larger and no rabbet will be needed. 



The glass is to be fastened together by pasting over the angles silk 

 galloon, about half an inch wide. The lower edges, which go into 

 the base, should be set in putty. Then bind the edges of the top and 

 the sides and ends with the same galloon, and the case is done. The 

 paste used must be powdered gum tragacanth, dissolved in water ; the 

 apothecary from whom you purchase it will tell you how much water 

 to put to it. The cover is simply laid on top of the case ; of course it 

 will not be air tight, but it will be tight enough to answer every pur- 

 pose. 



But we cannot grow our plants directly in the bottom of the case, and 

 therefore must have a pan, which is best made of zinc, say three inches 

 deep, so as to have the top about even with the top of the base, and just 



